EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF MICROALGAL PIGMENTS IN DYE SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS INNOVATIONS
Abstract
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were prepared using natural pigments containing Chlamydomonas starii and Coelastrella spp. respectively as sensitizers. The dyes were used as lone sensitizers exploring Chlamydomonas starii and Coelastrella spp. separately and as co-sensitizers exploring the combined Chlamydomonas starii (ethanol and ethyl acetate extract) and Coelastrella spp. (ethanol and ethyl acetate extract) separately. The effects of the sensitizers on the performance of Dye sensitize solar cell were investigated. The study reveals that all the cells possess comparable values. However, of the two lone sensitisers Chalmydomonas starii based device gave a better efficiency than Coelastrella based device. This is attributed to their different anchoring functional groups. The, combined Chlamydomonas starii and Coelastrella spp. dyes (ethyl acetate extract) had the highest conversion efficiency suggesting dye synergic absorption effect as a result of co-sensitisation, the lower efficiency achieved by combined Chlamydomonas starii and Coelastrella spp. (ethanol extract) is attributed to the contributory effect of the extraction solvents.
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